South Africa opposition wants details of Zuma's over $500,000 home loan

South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has requested the president to provide details of the home loan he took to in respect of the infamous Nkandla upgrade refund.

The DA said it had written to President Zuma requesting him to provide proof to the National Assembly of his R7.8 million loan with VBS Mutual Bank. The details requested include:

The loan application
The loan agreement, including the details of the loan repayment; and
Any other relevant supporting documentation.

‘‘President Zuma must finally come to the realisation that he is not above the law, and that he must face the criminal charges that are brought against him. We urge the NPA to operate independently, and without fear and favour, and make a decision without delay,’‘ a DA statement released on Wednesday read.

President Zuma must finally come to the realisation that he is not above the law, and that he must face the criminal charges that are brought against him.

The DA also expressed worry at the news that almost 1000 days after DA’s corruption charges against Zuma, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was still undecided on its next steps.

The charges relate to the misapplication of funds by Zuma in the upgrade of his private Nkandla residence. According to the DA, it was extremely concerned that the NPA was dragging its feet on the way forward.

‘‘It is extremely concerning that the NPA – an independent body – is dragging its feet in making a decision in this matter. We cannot afford for this matter to be dragged out,’‘ the DA statement added.

The DA disclosed that the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services in a response to their query on the issue stated that “The National Prosecuting Authority is still considering the matter, no decision has been taken whether or not to prosecute any person(s) in relation to the matter”.

The presidency disclosed on Monday that Zuma, has refunded over half a million dollars into government chest. The amount was in respect of a court order that ordered an amount of 7.8 million rands ($538,000) to be paid back.

In 2009, soon after Zuma became president, upgrades began at his personal home in Nkandla, a small town in the eastern South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.

A 2014 investigation by the public protector Thuli Madonsela found the work done at the Nkandla residence went beyond beefing up the security infrastructure, as claimed later by some officials in the Zuma administration.

He was recommended to pay back some of the costs which he refused until the matter reached the Constitutional Court for ruling.

The landmark Constitutional Court judgment on the Nkandla refurbishment case ruled that the head of state had violated the constitution by refusing to pay the renovation costs of his private property, specifically those that do not relate to security.

“The National Treasury must determine the reasonable costs of those measures implemented by the Department of Public Works at the President’s Nkandla homestead that do not relate to security‚ namely the visitors’ centre‚ the amphitheatre‚ the cattle kraal‚ the chicken run and the swimming pool only,” Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said during the ruling.